2026 Benzie Audubon Events
All programs are free and open to the public, regardless of your Audubon membership status. (If you would like to join the club, sign up here.)
All event photos on this page, except where otherwise noted, are public domain images. To see member photos click here.
All events listed by Benzie Audubon Club are strictly voluntary in nature. As such, anyone who participates in any of these events does so by their own choice. If a person chooses to participate, that person knowingly and voluntarily enters into this waiver and release of liability and hereby waives any and all rights, claims, and causes of action resulting from that person’s participation in that event and releases the Club, its members and board members for any injury directly or indirectly caused by participation in that event. Voluntary participation in club events implies holding harmless the Club against any and all claims, suits, or actions of any kind for liability, damages, compensation, or otherwise brought by said person or anyone on that person’s behalf.
Field Trip: Early Spring Migratory Birds
Join field trip leader, Doug Cook, at Arcadia Marsh to find early spring migratory birds. Meet at the St. Pierre Road Trailhead (behind the marsh - not the main lot!) at 8:00am. All birding levels welcome.
Field Trip: Frogs, Toads, and Owls, Oh My!
Todd Warren will lead participants on this evening trip - bring a flashlight! Meet at the Betsie Valley Trailhead/River Road Boat Launch by Adams Rd, 4 mi East of Frankfort.
Field Trip: Beginning Birding
Join Candy Petrick for a beginner birding trip! Meet at the Betsie River Trailhead/River Road boat launch by Adams Road, 4 miles East of Frankfort.
Field Trip: Night Sounds, Part Two
Meet Todd Warren for another evening hike to hear the sounds of nighttime! Meet at the boat launch off of River road by Adams road, 4 miles East of Frankfort.
Program: Forest Birds with Vince Cavalieri
Vince Cavalieri from Sleeping Bear Dunes National Lakeshore will be presenting on forest birds. Join us at 7:00 pm at the St. Phillips Church in Beulah.
Benzie/Global Big Day Count
The Benzie/Global Big Day will feature a Team Event. This will be a friendly competition to find the greatest number of species in the county. Click on for more details.
Field Trip: Beach and Dune Ecology
Meet trip leaders Dianne Braybrook and Rob Venner at the parking lot at the West end of Grace Road. Be prepared to walk down stairs to the beach and for beach walking, too.
Field Trip: Birding By Ear
Doug Cook will lead field trip participants on a walk to identify birds by ear. Meet at 8:00am at the Betsie Valley Trail lot off of River Road, by Adams Road intersection. (River Road Boat Launch).
Field Trip: Forest Birds Along the Lakeshore
Meet trip leaders Dianne Braybrook and Rob Venner at the Arcadia Dunes Baldy Trailhead. Be prepared to see and hear spring songbirds including warblers! (The Baldy trailhead is on the West side of M-22, just South of Joyfield Road.)
Field Trip: Birding on the Boekeloo Trail
Meet Kathie Wiley in the small lot at the West end of Boekeloo Road, off of M-22. As this is within Sleeping Bear Dunes National Lakeshore, a park pass is required.
Field Trip: Hike in the Embayment Area
Candy Petrick will lead this field trip at the Embayment Lake Nature Preserve. Hike along the mesic forest trails and identify late spring species. Meet at the lot - 3677 Cooper Road, Honor, 49640 - East side of M-22, just south of Platte Rd.
Field Trip: Summer Birding
Join leader, Doug Cook, in Arcadia to search for grassland birds. Meet at the Regional Land Conservancy kiosk on Keillor Road.
Program: North Sky Raptor Sanctuary
Along with the Congregational Summer Assembly, please join us in welcoming a presentation from the North Sky Raptor Sanctuary - including live bird flights! Meet at 7:00pm in the CSA Meeting Building, right off of M-22, along Crystal Lake.
Field Trip: Breeding Bird Behavior
Join leader, Todd Warren, at the Betsie Valley Trailhead/River Road boat launch by Adams Road, 4 miles East of Frankfort. Learn how to identify the unique behavior of breeding birds!
Program: Empowering a Community to Protect Natural Resources
Join us for a presentation from the Benzie Conservation District. We will learn about their efforts to engage the community to protect the region’s invaluable natural resources from land to water. We will meet at the Mill’s Community House in Benzonia at 7:00pm.
Fall Birding
It’s time for fall birding and migration! Join trip leader, Doug Cook, at the Betsie Valley Trailhead/River Road Boat Launch off of River Rd. (Next to Adams Rd, 4 miles East of Frankfort)
Fall Waterfowl
Meet trip leader, Doug Cook, at the river mouth of the Platte River at Platte Point in Sleeping Bear Dunes - Park pass required.
Annual Meeting and Photo Show
We will host our annual meeting beginning with a brief business meeting and closing with our annual Members' Photo Show. (St. Phillips Church, Beulah)